WSW: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar A Basketball Legend And "Concerned American"

Former NBA basketball player Kareem Abdul Jabbar, left, is presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama, right, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016, in Washington.

Credit Andrew Harnik, The Associated Press / AP

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is still known to many people as a star basketball player, with UCLA in college and later the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. But Abdul-Jabbar says he’s also a concerned American, “and I felt I should speak out on something that I know is a serious issue for my country.”

The basketball hall of fame member says he understands that people may not be interested in a book by a retired athlete, but Abdul-Jabbar says other people may be curious about his writing because he is well-known. So far, Abdul-Jabbar says the response to his book has been positive.

Asked if athletes should speak out on social issues, Abdul-Jabbar says those who go to the trouble to be knowledgeable, have a right to speak out. He says everyone has to use their platform as they see fit. Abdul-Jabbar says he considers himself fortunate to be able to offer his opinion on important issues.

Credit Kalamazoo Public Library

Race

In Writings on the Wall, Abdul-Jabbar says it’s hard for white people to see racism because most of them are not racists. But he also says that he has faced bigotry since he was very young, and will likely continue to for the rest of his life. Abdul-Jabbar says it’s hard for many white people to recognize systemic racism because it doesn’t affect them personally. He says it’s up to people who are negatively affected to convey that being of a different race in White America can be a painful experience.

Religion

Abdul-Jabbar writes of his own decision to convert to Islam, and how he is now on “celebrity Muslim speed dial” when there is a terrorist attack carried out by Islamic groups. Abdul-Jabbar says ISIS is the Muslim equivalent of the Ku Klux Klan. He says ISIS doesn’t represent all Muslims any more than the KKK represents all of Christians.

Voting

Abdul-Jabbar is very critical of voter ID laws and other things that he says get in the way of people who want to vote. But he says if people aren’t informed their votes are rather superfluous. Abdul-Jabbar says he’s not in favor of making anyone go to the polls who isn’t interested in voting.

NBA Records

During a 20 year career in the NBA, Abdul-Jabbar set several records. More than 27 years after retiring, he still holds the league’s record for most career points. In Writings on the Wall, Abdul-Jabbar says he expects all of his records to be broken eventually. But in our interview, he says the escalating salaries in the NBA give his record a chance to endure. Abdul-Jabbar who retired when he was 42 says “guys get to be 35 and say hey, now it’s time to find that island and the cool drink.”

Robert Weir was “a little too young” to participate in the civil rights movement. Since he grew up in a rural, all-white area in Michigan, he didn’t know much about the movement until Martin Luther King Junior was assassinated. Weir has since written about civil rights, and recently joined a pilgrimage to key sites in three southern states. The Living Legacy Pilgrimage is a bus tour through Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama.